More than 200 art and physical education instructors from all over the State gathered at the Capital City on Monday to press their demand for permanent job.
The art students and teachers enacted a street play at Lower PMG to highlight their demand. They were protesting under the banner of Odisha Kala and Krida Sikhyak Mahasangha.
The instructors protested State Government’s repeated attempt to mislead them by making false assurances about their employment.
The students of different Art colleges of the State have been demanding permanent employment for quite sometime. Conceding to their demands, the State Government has decided to recruit the art students on a part time basis as instructors in schools last year.
The recruitment was conducted under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and the instructors are reportedly paid `100 per class. The instructors are being recruited for three positions in the schools - visual art, performing art and physical education instructors.
Mahasangha secretary Jyoti Prakash Sahoo said senior Government officials had assured them of permanent position after they launched their protest on December 5. “Through street play, we want to convey the indifference of the Government towards the Art students and teachers,” said Sahoo. He added that they have met senior officials of School and Mass Education Department and Finance Department but to no avail.
They have threatened to intensify the protest if their demands are not addressed by the Government soon.